Two compartment box



Oct. 31, 1944.

TWO COMPARTMENT BOX Filed Apl 26,l 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Eiga.

NUI y M me/whoa',

58 oy CPoZs,

application of my invention to `compartment box body;

Patented Oct. 3l, 1944 TWO COMIPARTMENT BOX Roy C. Potts, Takoma Park, Md.A

6 Claims.

It is an object of this invention to provide a I two-compartment shipping case which can be made of large size without, however, requiring the production of blanks having unwieldy dlmensions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a box of the class described which may be7 opened, collapsed and reused with minimum injury to the box.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a two-compartment shipping-X case formed from two identical blanks in which` each compartment has complete top and bottom closure flaps.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a. box of the class described in which only two types of blanks are involved and in which die cutting in the formation of the blanks is reduced to a. minimum.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a two-compartment box in which the two compartments areformed and secured to each other by means of a single line of stitching on each side of the assembled box.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a two-compartment box lhaving all of its vertical walls of double thickness and having closure aps corresponding to the structure of a regular slotted carton.

'I'he above and other objects will be made clear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the Vbody forming type of blank;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the closure-forming type of blank;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of i a box assembled from the blanks of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. l is a section taken on the line 4 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 4, but I, showing the closure panels in closed position;

-Fig. 6 is a plan viewof a blank showing the the ordinary slotted type container;

7 is a plan view of a two-compartment box formed by joining two blanks of the type shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the box of Fig. 7 with all of the aps in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a blank forming a two- Fig. l0 is a plan View of a blank to be combined r with the blank of Fig. 9 to provide double thickness walls and top and bottom closureflaps; and

f Fig. ll. is a .plan view of the carton formed when the blanks of Fies."9 and 10 are combined and erected.

Application April 26, 1944, Serial No. 532,814

from which my improved box is formed.- 'IWo identical blanks of the. form of Fig. 1 are joined to form the two compartment box body. The blank is indicated generally as I 0 and is madeup of a closure iiap I2, wall panels I4, I6 and I8 and' a combination wall panel and closure flap 20. A score line I3 divides flap I2 from panel I4; a score line I5 divides panel I4 from panel I6; a score line I 'I divides panel I 6 from panel I8;

and a score line I9 divides panel I8 from the combination flap and panel 2B. f

Panel I4 has an auxiliary ap 3l! at its upper edge defined by a score line 3| and an auxiliary flap 32 at its lower ledge dened by a score line 33. Panels I6 and I8 have identical ilaps 34,36,

` 38 and 40 dened by prolongations of the score als lines 3| and 33. The combination flap and panel 20 has similar auxiliary aps 42 and 44 similarly dened. It is to be noted, however, that naps 42 and 44 terminate short of the end of the combination ilap and panel 20 by an amount equal to the width of the closure ap I2. The extremities of each of the several auxiliary'flaps are cut away along 45 lines for a purpose presently to be described.

In Fig. 2 I show the other of the. two types of blanks from which'my improved box is formed. This blank is indicated generally by the reference numeral 50 and comprises an end wall panel 52 having a top closure panel 54 at one side, defined by a score line 56, and a bottom closure panel 58 at the opposite side dened by a score line B0. At the opposite side of the bottom closure panel 58 is a securing ilap 62 defined by a score line 64. At the opposite side of the top closure panel 54 is a closure securing'ilap B6 defined by a score line 68.

, A two compartment box body is formed by folding and securing together two identical blanks I Il. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. 3, by bringing the free edge of the combi- I Each blank III, therefore, forms a four wallecl` compartment with the panels I4 of the two blanks set adjacent each other. rThese panels I4 are 'spaced apart a distance suflicient to accommodate twice the thickness of the board in blank 5U. I t is to` be noted that the superimposed portions of flap I2 and panel 2l] of each compartment lie on opposite sides of the assembled box and each overlies one side of a panel I6. The assembly is completed by running a row of staples 15 down /each side of the lboxpenetrating the panel 20,

' the ap I2 and the panel I6 at each side. With j In Fig. 1I show one vof the two types of blanks,` 60

the box in this condition tle auxiliary flaps 30,

. outer margins.

`relatively heavy.

' and a bottom closure s4, sa, 42, etc., may be folded at 90 to their respective panels and thereby form va. base to support the closure panels of the blank 50.

Two blanks 50 are applied to opposite sides of the two compartment body. In each case the central panel 52' is secured toa panel |8 of each of the blanks I0, preferably by a line of staples and closure panels 58 over 62 of the blanks 50.

These perforations are so formed that when the parts are in the condition illustrated in Fig. 5, they fall into registry. l Any suitable securing means may be passed therethrough. If, however, the box is tobe collapsible and re-usable,

the securing means should be removable. One l suitable form of securing means is shown in my Patent No. 2,352,407, dated June 27, 1944, and

' another suitable formis shown in my application Serial No. 532,815, filed of even date herewith.

It is to be noted that the improved two compartment box has its partition walls, completed by only two rows of staples, and that only four more rows are 'needed to securethe closure panels. This has not heretofore been accomplished, so far as I am aware. The tuck-in naps on the blanks 50 make a secure closure which may be reopened and reclosed as often as necessary without damage to the material of the box. When the flaps 62 and 66 of the n blanks 50 have substantial depth, and this will usually be the case, they are almost perfectly reliable against accidental displacement.

When it is desired'to collapse the box, panels 54 and 58 of blank 50 are folded back substanuauy against te panel la of blank lo; the auxiliary naps of blank y| are folded back to lie in the planes of their respective panels, and the box body then lcollapses into flattened condition along the several score lines of the blank |0.`

The fact that only two types of blanks are involvedmakes for vreal economy of manufacture,

and for efficiency in the assembly operation vas well. The blanks themselves are extremely simple in design, and

flber'boards of'substantial caliper are involved.

Referring now to Fig. 6,1 show a blank |00 comprising an end flap |02 defined by a score line |04, a wall panel panel ||0 defined by a ||4 dened by a score score line ||2, a wall panel line H6, and a fourth .wall

`panel ||8. Wall panel |06 has-a top closure ap |03 denedby a score line |03 and a bottom closure flap |05 defined by a score line-|05'. Wall panel ||0 has a top closure flap |01 dened by a body, including the`dual |06 dened by a score line |08, a wall The corner closure ap die cutting has been mnil;

mized. This becomes quite important when solida;

of less width than the panel ||B andthe excess of width over that of the flaps substantially equals the width of flap |02.

As shown in Fig.`7, two blanks of the type shown in Fig. 6 may be joined to forma twocompartment box, each compartment of which has independent top and bottom closures of the familiar slotted carton type.

In each of the blanks, the flap |02 is bent outwardly at right angles to the panel |06. The blank is then given a rectangular conformation and the projecting portion of panel H0 is superimposed upon the ap |02. A'second blank is' similarly formed an the flaps |02. of each blank is superimposed upon e wall panels I0. A line of staples |20 `(Fig. 8) is then applied through the projecting portion of the panels H8, the flaps |02 and the wall panels ||0, to secure the two compartments together.

-Any conventional means for closing cartons of the slotted type maybe used, such, for example, as 'placing adhesive kbetween the superimposed closure aps or by running gummedl tape, for example, across'the flaps |01 and in Fig. 8. I prefer, however, to utilize fasteners of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 532,815, filed of even date herewith, andtthese may, if desired, be used'in connection with preprinted areas of self-sealing closed in said application.

One very important featureof this construc- -tion lies in the fact that a two-compartment box is formed using precisely the same number of staples whichv would be used for the ordinary corner 'securement of a one-compartment box,

curely joined since the stitching passes through three thicknesses of board and, in any handling of the box, the stitching is stressed in shearing and` not in tension, as would be the case were the compartments joined merely by stitching to-A gether the two abutting walls |06.

It is to be noted that the formation of the vertical walls of the two compartments' in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 are identical to the form illustrated in Figs. 6, 'I and 8. carrying walls, in either case, may be juxtaposed eithe'i` in the abutting relationship of Figs. 6, and 8, or ln the spaced relationship of Figs. 1 through 5.

In Fig/s. 9, 10 and 11, I its' external walls of double thickness, but which, nevertheless, embodies the principles heretofore discussed. In Fig. 9,'I'show a blank |30 correspondingl generally to the blanks of Figs. l

score line |01' and a bottom closure flap |09 line |09'. Wall panel ||4has defined by a score line flap ||3 defined by a score line ||3'. Wall panel ||8 has a topclosure nap IH defined by a score line ||1' and a'bottom closure flap ||9 defined by It is deiined by a score a top closure ap a score line H93 to be noted that theclosure flaps and ||3 are u and 6. The blank |30 comprises a corner closure flap |32; separated by a score line |32' from a partition panel |33. A score line |33 separates the partition panel |33 from a. front v(or'rear) wall panel |34. A score line |34' separates the front wall panel |34 from an end Wall panel |35, and a. score line panel |35 from arear (or front) wall panel |36. The latter panel |36 exceeds in width the corresponding panel |34 by an amount equal `to the width ofthe corner closure flap. |32.

-In Fig. 10, I show a blank |4`0 adapted to'be combined with the blank |30 of Fig. 9. The blank |40 comprlsesa corner closing ap- |4|, a rear wall panel |42',`.an end wall'vpanel |43, a front wall panel |44, and a second end wallpanel |45-, abutting the corner closure ap |4|. v In Fig. 11, I show two blanks |30 combined adhesive, as disillustrate a box having l |35' separates the end wall to form a two-compartment box body, with each corner closure flap |32 folded outwardly at right angles to the partition panel |33, and with the extra width of the panel |36 of V"one blank overlying the corner closure flap |32 and a wall panel |34 of the other blank. 'Ihe blank |40 of Fig. 10 is Wrapped around the two compartment body. This doubles the thickness of all ofthe external walls. The corner closure nap |4| of the blank |40 underlies the rear wall panel |42 of that blank. Staples are passed through each side of the box and penetrate, on one side, the wall |42 of blank |40 and panels |36 and I 34 and corner closure iiap |32 of the blanks |30. On the other side, the same parts of blanks |30 are penetrated plus the wall |44' l of blank |40.

A line of staples also passes through the wall |42 of the blank |40, the corner closure ap |4| of that blank blanks |30. If desired, for additional strength, similar lines of staples may be placed at each corner of the box, through the walls 42 and |44 of the blank |40. Preferably, there should be no staples penetrating the end walls. Avoidance of such locations Icontributes to collapsibility, particularly when the blank |40-is triple scored at the sides of panels' |43 and |45 as disclosed 'in my copending application Serial No. 532,817, iiled of even date herewith. The flaps |42', |43', |44 and |45"of blank |40 form top and bottom closures for the nal package. If desired, either or both of flaps |42' and |44' may be made of a, width fully equal to the width of the box whereby to increase the strength of the closure by doubling the thickness of the top and bottom closures over the entire area covered. Such an expedient is illustrated in dotted l.Outline in Fig. 11.

In connection with' Fig. 11, vit is to be noted that the distortion of the blank |40 in the walls |42 and |44 is greatly exaggerated. In practice, the thickness of board will vary between .045 and .080 inch, while the length of the walls will be from 18 inches to 36 inches. With the actual dimensions, therefore, the distortion will be negligible. J

I claim:

1. A two-compartment box, each compartment having a top loading end opening upwardly andbeing formed from a single blank, the two blanks ing mutually identical, each compartment having a corner closure comprising an extension of one wall superimposed upon a closure iiap folded outwardly from the adjacent wall to form a projecting iin, said compartments having their-respective corner-closure nap-carrying walls in vjuxtaposed relation and each having its ,projecting fin overlying a portion of one of the walls of the adjacent compartment, there being on each side of the assembled box a single line of stitching passing through a iin and a portion ofthe compartment wall under such iin.

4 2. A two-compartment box, each compartment having a top loading end opening upwardly and being formed from a single blank, the two blanks being mutually identical, each compartment having a corner closure comprising an extension of one wall superimposedI upon a closure ilap folded, outwardly from the adjacent wall to form a projecting nn, said compartments having their respective comer-closure nap-carrying walls and a wall |34 of one of the in juxtaposed relation and each having its projecting iin overlying a portion of one of the walls of the adjacent compartment, there being on each side of the assembled box a single line ci stitching passing through a nn and a portion of the compartment wall under such fin, each wall of each compartment having at least one closure ap of the slotted carton type.

3. A two-compartment box, each compartment having a top loading end opening upwardly and being formed from a single blank, the two blanks being mutually identical, each compartment having a corner closure comprising an extension oi' one wall superimposed upon a closure iiap folded outwardly from the adjacent wall to form a projecting fin, said compartments having their respective corner closure nap-carrying walls in juxtaposed relation and each having its projecting iin overlying a portion of one of the walls of the adjacent compartment, there being on each side of the assembled box a single line of stitching passing through a fin and a. portion of the compartment wall under such iin, each wall of each compartment having at each end thereof a closure ilap of the slotted carton type.

4. A two-compartment box with a double wall between the compartments, each walll of said double wall being an extension of a side wall and bearing an end iiap turned outwardly and overlapped by an extension of the abutting side wall of its compartment, said end flapv and overlapped extension of the abutting side wall forming a n projecting over an exterior side wall of the other compartment and being attached thereto by at least one row of staples.

5. A two-compartment, collapsible box formed from two pairs of blanks, the blanks of each pair being. mutually identical, the blanks of one pair being joined to each other to form a` two-compartment box body having a double wall between the compartments, each wall of said double wall being an extension of a side wall and bearing an end flap turned outwardly and overlapped by an extension lof the abutting side wall of its compartment, said end nap and extension of the abutting side wall forminga fin projecting over an exterior side wall of the other compartment and being attached thereto by at least one row of staples, the blanksof the other,pair being joined, each to one of the box body forming a pair of identical blanks, said box body having a double wall between the compartments, each wall of said double wall being an extension of a side wall and bearing an end iiap turned out- `wardly and overlappedby an extension of the abutting side wall of its compartment, said end flap and extension of the abutting side wall forming an projecting 'over an exterior side wall of the other compartment and being attached thereto by at least one row of staples, the third blank surrounding all external walls oi said box body to double the thickness thereof and being secured thereto by at least one row of staples in each side wall: there being 'a closure ilap o n each wall of said third blank, the closure flaps on opposed side walls overlying the closure naps on opposed end walls when in closing'position.

`RQY C. POTI'S. 

